I'm not a huge fan of the Oprah show, but I have seen it and know what an influential person she is. I had also heard something similar to this article recently and wanted to share it.
"Oprah labeled 'false prophet' and 'conduit ... to Hell'"
Jeff Johnson - OneNewsNow - 3/27/2008 8:00:00 AM
A Christian author who was saved out of the new age movement says media icon Oprah Winfrey has become a false prophet for a false Jesus. Oprah Winfrey identifies herself as a Christian. But she says that, when she was a young woman, she was disturbed by a pastor's declaration that the God of the Bible is a jealous God. "And something about that didn't feel right in my spirit because I believe that God is love and that God is in all things," she told her television audience. "And, so, that's when the, the, the search for something more than doctrine started to stir within me." Warren Smith, author of Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel, is a Christian who was saved from the new age movement. He says Oprah's search led her to Marianne Williamson and the new age teachings of A Course in Miracles. "Marianne Williamson was on Oprah back in 1992 with her book about the Course in Miracles," Smith recalled, "and back then, Oprah said, 'I believe that the principles of A Course in Miracles can change the world' -- and she's saying the same thing today." Williamson is now promoting A Course in Miracles through daily classes on Oprah's XM satellite radio channel. "I will be on Oprah & Friends every single day talking about the ideas in A Course in Miracles," Williamson said during a promotional announcement for the program. "We can have miracles. We can have greater inner peace. We can shift from an experience of fear to an experience of greater love." Oprah told her audience that she has no problem reconciling the differences between the new age religion she is now promoting and the Christian faith she claims. "I reconciled it because I was able to open my mind about the, um, the absolute, indescribable hugeness of that which we call 'God,'" Oprah said. "I took God out of the box." But Smith, appearing on the March 11 edition of the AFA Report, said the false teachings of A Course in Miracles should be obvious to any Christian. "Here are some of the lessons: Lesson 29, 'God is in everything I see.' Lesson 186, 'The salvation of the world depends on me.' 253, 'My self is the ruler of the universe.' 337, 'My sinless-ness protects me from all harm,'" Smith said, quoting from the lessons. "This is the Bible upside-down." Smith also criticized Oprah for the selection of Eckhart Tolle's new age book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose as her book of the month. "It reminds me of Jeremiah 5 where he says, 'A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land, the prophets prophesy falsely and my people love to have it so,'" Smith explained. "What is more wonderful these days than Oprah? A wonderful and horrible thing is happening in the land, the prophets prophesy falsely. Oprah -- by now teaching this class with Eckhart Tolle -- is no longer a pointer to deception. She is a false prophet and part of it herself." Christians have an obligation, Smith concluded, to point out the error of Oprah's new age "christianity," even if doing so means risking public ridicule. "Unfortunately, Oprah does so many things that are really good [that] people make the mistake of thinking that she's on to something with this whole spiritual deal," Smith argued. "What she's doing is, she's creating a new worldview. They're calling it a 'shift' that will prepare people for when the next shoe drops. "And this will be the way that world peace would be achieved," he said, explaining the new age philosophy behind A Course in Miracles, "by everybody adopting this view that 'we're all one because we're all god, we need to come together, we need to be in unity.' "And the only people who are going to hinder that are the people who are saying, 'No, we're not God. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.' Internet evangelist Bill Keller, appearing on Fox News Channel's Cavuto Report, echoed Smith's warnings, calling Oprah the queen of the new age gurus. "These new age teachings are really sucking in millions of people to these false philosophies, these false theologies, and they're literally leading people to Hell," Keller said. "Oprah, whether she knows it or not, is really being a conduit to lead people to Hell."
I'd like to hear people's thoughts on this one. I will only make one rule - no nastiness. I imagine that some people will agree with this article, and some may not. If you leave a comment that I consider to be mean-spirited directed at either myself or anyone else who chooses to comment, your comment will be deleted. I'm sure this won't be a problem, given my "regular" readers, but just in case...
8 comments:
Wow, you are kinda cracking open a can of worms here, Julie...
I am trying to carefully word my comment and yet convey my thoughts...I think this type of article drives an unbeliever further from Christianity. I recently had coffee with a friend who labels herself as "searching" and she was asking me all kinds of questions about the different beliefs of Christians, she told me of an email she got that called Barack Obama the anti-Christ. This reconfirmed for her some images of hate-filled teachings. I told her that the church is made up of people who often get things wrong...and that faith cannot be based on people (or church) but on the Bible.
I don't know, Julie, I am studying Luke right now and Jesus was pretty hard on the Pharisees (in person usually) but quite easy on the unbeliever. And, we are told many many times not to judge. Many many times...while tough to do, its still what we are commanded to do. I think person-to-person relating is the key, and if a friend were to ask me outright about some of these teachings, then I would address them in that fashion...rather than condemning a person.
Wow, I don't know if any of that makes sense..
I guess my thinking in this is that Oprah is, essentially, a "good" person. She does a lot of really nice things for a lot of people. I believe that she tries pretty hard to remember what it was like for her when she was abused, poor, etc.
I just wonder if she's being mislead by the "New Age" religious figures as to how salvation works.
My cousin-in-law, Melany, left this comment on the original post:
There's a lot that could be said here- so I hope you will get lots of responses! I will make two comments:
1) God's jealousy demonstrates His perfect love. He loves us completely and desires our love. To love Him in return ought to be our compelling impulse "because He first loved us". Unfortunately our response has been distorted by sin. We withdraw from God's love and become accusatory when God jealously points out His rightful claim on our lives and hearts. God is also jealous of our worship, and He has created us to find our greatest joy in praising what is truly praiseworthy- Himself! John Piper has developed this theme with his ministry, desiringGod.org.
2) Regarding lesson 337, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us....If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:8, 10 ESV
Since I am new to this blog I tread very carefully. I think sometimes people are mislead. They really believe in what they are saying. Sometimes the devil tries to use each one of us. Sometimes we don't even know it.
You know a few years ago, my hubby jokingly, referred to Oprah as THE anti-Christ. I laughed and blew him off, but maybe, just maybe there was some truth to his comment. I use to LOVE watching Oprah, but over the last few years not-so-much for several reasons which I choose not to outline here. However, I do believe Oprah is a well-meaning, philantropic individual with lots of "pull" society as is evidenced by her political views and subsequent support of Obama to her school building/sponsorship in Africa. I believe she has good intentions. However, the best of intentions are not going to save you from an eternity in hell. ONLY having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is going to get you there. I am not going to cast judgement on whether/whether or not Oprah is truly saved, however the bible says that "you will know them by their fruit". I think that's pretty clear. Just my thoughts. With such influence wouldn't it be great if Oprah touted having a personal relationship with Jesus, instead of finding god in EVERYTHING. Heather
I tend to agree with Heather.
Oprah does a lot of 'good' things but that does not a Christian make. However, not for us but for Jesus to judge.
I do get ticked at the number of people who claim to be Christians and but according to the bible are not - and according to this article I have doubts that Oprah is a Christian in the biblical sense.
I agree with amanda that Christians often push away non-Christians by appearing judgemental. But I think in this case believers need to know exactly what is going on & what she is claiming as 'truth'. She has SO much influence & I fear she will lead some new or not very strong in their faith astray.
When I was a new Christian I got involved in a 'prosperity' or 'name it & claim it' church. I did not have anyone descipling me & it's so easy to be led in the wrong direction when you don't know better yet.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Thanks for raising the question!
So I've been pondering this for about a week now. I don't really have anything super intellectual or spiritual to add...it's like 10:30 at nite and I normally go to bed at 9:00 :). I do agree with the previous comments. It really brings to mind the verses that speak to remaining watchful and about the deceiver. In this day and age where we are at war, rumors that the Nation's economy is heading for a recession and all of the other negative things that are going on you can easily see how the stage could be setting for the antichrist to deceive and come into power. People want their needs to be met...people want peace and safety and they want the validation that their goodness will give them a place in heaven.
This information is a good reminder that all things need to be weighed against the Word. We must remain vigilant and prayerful.
so many people are hungry for something spiritual in their lives. it's so sad how the "wrong" way can be made to seem so right by people whom the public trusts!
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